Within the last 12 months the increased demand on workforce mobility has made virtual networking a critical component of IT operations for most businesses. New IDC research highlights that close to 65% of all server tasks around the globe are run on virtual servers. Virtual networks allow for communication between multiple platforms, including storage devices, VDS, VDI and other devices at different locations. The user experience is essentially the same, however the benefit to the organization makes virtual networking an attractive option for organizations looking to cut cost, improve security, strengthen backup reliability, and scale easily. Outsourcing virtual networks to a Managed Cloud Provider can amplify these benefits.
Cost Savings
Outsourcing virtual networks enable organizations to practically eliminate most of the physical footprint within their offices because they don’t need to invest in expensive servers, routers, networks, and other devices to manage information. It is estimated that an organization can reduce cost by up to 40% on hardware and software alone. Savings are realized because computing power is mostly idle. By using a virtual network through a Cloud Provider, you are essentially sharing physical resources and therefore fewer resources are necessary. Companies using virtual networks only incur costs while they are operational, as a result businesses only pay for the resources they actually use. “Organizations also benefit from economies of scale and specialized expertise in managing network operations when outsourcing their network, freeing up IT staff to focus on innovation rather than maintenance.”, says Vincent Yeung, Manager, Enterprise Services & Provisioning\CISO, Cover-All Managed IT Services.
Strengthened Security
Cyber attacks are becoming more sophisticated and harder to defend against with an organization falling victim to ransomware attack every 14 seconds in 2019. In fact, ransomware attacks have increased a staggering 97% in the past two years. Keeping lock step with new malware can be a daunting task for many IT departments. “This lack of internal expertise leaves many businesses exposed to security risks and without the internal network systems in place to ensure their business is secure from potential intrusions.”, says Yeung. Managed Cloud Providers offer a reprieve from the cycle of updates necessary to protect an organization by retaining the expertise that companies may not possess internally. They can dynamically adapt and assemble resources to handle any potential attacks on their infrastructure.
Data Backup and Recovery Reliability
It is fairly evident that backup is critical to business continuity. However, what is not always evident to businesses is that recovery doesn’t just involve salvaging your data, but of your complete working environment as well. “Virtualization simplifies backup and recovery because it doesn’t require the rebuilding of a physical server environment, you simply move your virtual machines (VM’s) to another system without missing a beat.”, says Yeung. When using a Managed Cloud Provider, you gain the advantage of working with a more reliable network infrastructure. Their Data Centres have built-in multiple layers of redundancy including physical, environmental and network specifications to keep systems, networks, and application data safe. They also offer 99.99% availability which keeps networks running smoothly. These networks are designed to routinely back-up data so that it can be used in the event of an outage, preventing the potential loss of business data or applications. These outside Data Centres are also prepared to get your system up and running quickly with little or no downtime.
Easy to scale
Growth is often a painful process for organizations that lack enough idol processing power to manage the increased demand on their IT systems. Organizations managing growth often spend substantial resources on project management to plan for the expansion of their IT infrastructure and make significant capital expenditures on new hardware and software. Migrating from old to new systems also creates potential issues with data loss and service interruptions. “When virtual networks are outsourced, provisioning time is reduced from weeks or months to minutes and the transition is seamless, saving organizations valuable time and money while minimizing any potential challenges with systems migrations.”, says Yeung.
It is clear that virtual networks offer organizations significant benefits, however the changes in workforce mobility is likely to be the primary driving factor for businesses moving to a virtual network into the foreseeable future.
Cover-All Managed IT Services provides cost-effective Cloud Services to leading Canadian organizations. For more information contact 1-833-268-3788 or visit our website at https://www.msp.cover-all.ca/cloud-services/